Panel-box.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

F. S. WAHL.

PANEL BOX. APPLICATION FILED 111 3.29, 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

,Inv 611:?0 7" cu ow THE NORRIS P21:

.No. 897,564. v PATENTED SE TA, 1908; P. s ,WAHL. PANEL BOX.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1907.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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FRANK s. WAHL, or OLEAN, NEW YORK.

PANE L-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed April 29, 1907. Serial No. 370,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S. WAHL, a citizen of the'United States, residin at Olean, in the county of Cattaraugus and tate of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Panel-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electric cut-out or panel boxes in which the comartment containing the switches or cut-outs is surrounded by a closed gutter in which the crossings between the switches or cut-outs and the feed and distributing wires are placed so as to prevent damage to the building or switches in case of fire breaking out in the gutter due to faulty wiring.

Owing to the extensive use of metal conduits for wiring a building with which metalpanel boxes are required an electrical contractor or wireman is often seriously hampered in the progress of his work on account of his not having on hand the required size of panel box. To build a panel box'for each occasion requires considerable time and skill on the part of the workman and frequently results in much delay and loss to the contractor;

It is also often desirable to alter the size of the boxafter it has been installed owing to unlocked for extensions of the wiring system. It is obvious that in such a case a rigid or one piece box would have to be discarded and replacedby one of the required size.

Therefore the object of this invention is to produce a panel box, cut-out boxor cabinet which can be built u in sections, with ease and rapidity by a wor man of average skillso as to accommodate any desired number of cut-outs and switches.

A panel box of this construction enables a contractor or wireman to meet varying conditions'by keeping on hand a comparatively small stock of parts thus reducing the investment which was heretofore necessary for this purpose.

drawn into the conduits instead of putting up the box first and drawing the wires afterwards. Furthermore, this sectional construction of panel box renders it possible to increase the size of the same, if required, during the last stages of the work without removing all of the box already inplace.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 3 sheets: Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved panel box. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same in line 22, Fig. 1. Fig.

It also enables the workman to install the box after all the wires have been,

3 is a front elevation of my improved panel box with the front or trim thereof removed. Fig. 4 is a cross section in line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross section in line 55, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the gutter cover sections. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the corner fastening bars or plates. Fig. 8 isa similar view of one of the intermediate or side gutter sections. Fig. 9 is asimilar view of one of the corner gutter, sections. Fig. 10 is a similar view of one of the straps or pieces for coupling adjacent gutter sections. Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary perspective views of two parts of a corner utter section which are adapted to be interlocked. I

. Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding 'parts throughout the several views. c

In its general organization, my improved panel box consists of a rectangular guttershaped frame or border in which the wiring or-crossings are arranged and which forms the sides of the compartment in which the cut-outs and switches are arranged. The gutter frame is constructed of detachable side and corner sections which permits a greater or lesser number of side sections to be assembled to produce a panel box of the required dimensions. Each of these sections is preferably constructed of sheet metal and the body thereof has its bottom and inner and outer walls made in one piece while its cover is made separate from'the body and detaohably connected therewith.

The body A of each corner section, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4,9, 11 and12, has two branches arranged at right angles to each other in the form of the letter L and consists of an angular outer wall a, an angular inner wallet and two bottom portions a a extending from the rear edge of one angular wall to the rear edge of its companion angular wall. In its preferred form, each corner section is constructed in one piece of sheet metal, the bottom portion 0. being connected at its outer and inner edges with the rear edges of the outer and inner walls of one branch while the other bottom portion a is connected only at its outer edge with the rear edge of the outer wall of the other branch and is freely fitted at its inner edge against the inner'wall of said last mentioned-branch. The joint or division between the two bottom sections preferably extends obliquely from the outer to the inner corner of the corner section.

The inner or narrow end of the bottom portion a" is provided with an outwardly bent hook I) which engages with a lip b bent out of the inner wall of the respective branch of the corner piece or section, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 9, 11 and 12.

Arranged diagonally underneath the corner section and closing the oint between the bottom portions (L2, o is a supporting and coupling plate or bar C which projects at opposite ends inwardly and outwardly beyond the sides of the corner body section. This supporting plate is provided with a plurality of lugs c, which are bent forwardly out of said plate and passed forwardly through openings c in the bottom portions ,11 and clenched against thefront side of the same, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The outer ends of the supporting plates are perforated to permit of attaching the same by screws to a wall or support and the inner ends of the same are also perforated and. form supports for the back 1) of the panel box which is secured to said plates by screws (Z or otherwise. This back may consist of slate, marble, metal, or wood covered with asbestos or sheet metal for protection against lire.

As shown. in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 8, the body E of each side section consists of a lla t back or bottom 0 and inner and outer walls 0, c projecting outwardly from the corresponding longitudinal edges of said bottom. As many of these sections are fitted together end to end at the several sides of the panel box as may be necessary to produce a box of the required capacity, and the extremities of these side sections are fitted against the extremities of the branches of the corner sections. At the oints between the several body sections of the gutter the same are connected by a plurality of coupling pieces or straps F. Each of these straps has the form of the letter U, as shown in Fig. 10, and is fitted against the inner side of the gutter so as to extend across the bottom and side joints between two adjacent sections. The strap is secured to the adjacent sections by means of lugs ff which are bent out of the bottom and side walls of said sections and which, after being passed inwardly through bottom and side openings g, respectively in the strap, are clenched against the inner side of the same, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each section of the gutter body has a cover H which closes its front side, the covers for the corner sections being L-shaped while those of the side sections are oblong and each section terminates flush with the ends of its respective section. Adjacent to its outer and inner edges each cover section is provided with beads, grooves or channels 72., hi which fit over the front edges of the outer and inner walls of the respective gutter body section and hold these part-s against lateral displacement relatively to each other. The

several cover sections are fastened by a plurality of retaining bars I each of which is arranged transversely across the outer side of the joint between two adjacent cover sections and is secured in place by screws i passing through opposite ends of said retaining bar in line with the joint between two adjacent cover sections and with lips 11 at the upper or front ends of the side bars of the coupling straps F, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. To pernnt the passage of the fastening screws 71 between adjacent ends of the cover sections the latter are provided at their meeting edges with notches j, as shown in Fig. 6, which receive said screws.

K represents the door which covers the front side of the compartment of which the gutter forms the sides and which contains the switches and cut-outs. This door may be variously cmistructed but is preferably mad 0 of a sheet of iron which rests at its margin on a ledge formed by inward extensions 7c on the several gutter cover sections. The door is pivoted at one edge to some of the retaining bars by hinges Z, while its opposite edge is detachably connected with the ledge of the adjacent cover section by a turn button 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

\Vithin the compartimi-nt are arranged the switches M, M and cut-outs N, N, whereby the main feed lines or wires m, m are com nected and disconnected with the distributing lines or wires 72, a. In the drawings, two feed pipes 0 are shown containing the wires 'm, m which it will be assumed are carrying electric currents of different voltage. Each of these feed pipes is secured in one of a number of openings 0 in the outer walls of the gutter body section.

P, P represent the distributing pipes which are also secured in openings 0 formed in the outer walls of the gutter and which receive the distributing wires. As shown in the drawings, each corner section is provided with two pipe openings in its outer walls and each side section is provided with three pipe openings.

Six switches M and companion cut-outs N are shown in the drawings for connecting the main lines m with six sets of distributing wires and but a single switch M and companion cut-out N .is shown for connecting the feed wire m with a single set of distributing wires n.

T he feed and distributing wires run to and from the switches through insulating bushings g arranged in openings g in the inner walls of the gutter, four of such openings being preferably in each side gutter section. The openings in the outer and inner walls of the gutter which are not in use may be closed by plugs or shutters of any suitable construction.

The wiring, splicing or crossing between the wires of different circuits is located in the Cir . gutter and as this gutter is constructed of non-combustible material and the s ace within the gutter is wholly .shut-ofi rom communication with the central compartment and also from the surrounding space it is impossible toinjure theswitches or cutouts or to burn anything of a combustible character adjacent to the'panel box if a blaze or undue heat should be produced in the gutter owing to burning out or short circuiting of wires by reason of faulty-wiring.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of -my improved *panel box,

that the same as a whole-may be put in position after the conduits or pipes are in place and the wires have been drawn, or the back may be inserted with or without the switches andcut-outs mounted thereon after the gutters have been placed.

My improved sectional box may be put in position in a recess in thewall and flush with the latter after the pipes are in'place.

In the use of my improved'panel box it is only necessary to make different sizes of backs and doors for the switch and cut-out compartment inasmuch as the otherparts only require to be increased or'reduced in number to obtain the desired size of box. Although I have described myimproved gutter panel box as being made mostly of sheet metal it is obvious that most of the parts can be made of cast iron and still retain the essential features of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A panel box having a gutter inclosing frame com osed of L-shaped corner sections andstraig t side sections interposed between the corner sections, substantially as set forth.

2. A panel box havinga gutter inclosing frame composed of corner sections and side sectionsinterposed between the corner sections, said corners having -L-shaped bodies and covers and said side sections having straight bodies and covers, substantially as set forth.

3. A panel box having an inclosing frame composed of a plurality of gutter sections which are arranged end toend, and means for detachably connecting adjacent sections, substantially as set forth.

4. A panel box having an inclosing frame composed of a plurality of gutter sections which are arranged end to end, and means for detachably connecting adjacent sections consisting of couplingpieces arranged across pieces arranged with said sections across the joints between the same and having openings, and bendable lugs which are 7. arranged on said sections and which are passed through said openings and clenched against the coupling pieces, substantially as set forth.

6. A panel box having a gutter shaped inclosing frame composed of a plurality of sections arrangedend to end, each of said sections having-a body consistingv of a bottom and side walls projectingforwardly from the side edges of said bottom and also having a cover which rests on thefront edges of said sidewalls, and means for connecting said covers with the bodies comprising retaining bars arranged across the joints between adjacent cover sections, substantially as set forth.

7. A panel boxhaving a gutter shaped inclosing frame composed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end, each of said sections having a body consisting of a bottom and side walls projecting forwardly from the side edges of said bottom and also having a cover which rests on the front edges of said side walls, and means for connecting the bodies and covers of said sections consisting of U-shaped coupling pieces arranged with said bodysections across the joints between the same, lugs arranged on the sectionsand engaging with recesses in said coupling pieces, ears arranged at the front ends of said coupling pieces, retaining bars arranged on the outer side of said cover sections across the joints between the same, and fastening screws connecting said ears and retaining bars and arranged in the j oints between the cover sections, substantially as set forth.

and sidesections arranged end to end, each of said corner SGGtlOIlSllELVlTlg its body constructed of an L-sha'ped outer wall, an 'L- sha ed inner wall,.and two bottom portions eac of which extends fromtherear end of onebranch of the outer wall-to the rear end of one branch of the inner wall, substantially as set forth.

9. A panel box comprising a gutter-shaped inclosing frame composed of corner sections and side sections arranged end-to end, each of said corner sections'having itsbody constructed of an "L-shaped outer wall, an L- shaped inner wall, and two bottom portions which join diagonally between the corners of said outer and inner walls and each of which extends from the rear end of one branch of the outer wall to one branch of the inner wall, substantially as set forth.

10. A panel box comprising a guttershaped inclosing frame composed of corner sections and side sections arranged end to end, each of said corner sections having its body constructed of an L-shaped outer wall,

an L-shaped inner wall, and two bottom portions which join dia onally between the corners of said outer an inner walls and one of said portions being connected on opposite edges with the rear ends of one pair of corresponding side wall branches of the corner section while the other portion is connected on its outer edge with the rear end of the other outer side wall branch and fits at its inner free edge against the rear edge of the other inner side wallbranch, substantially as set forth.

11. A panel box comprising a guttershaped inclosing frame composed of corner sections and side sections arranged end to end, each of said corner sections having its body constructed of an L-shaped outer wall, an L-shaped inner wall, and two bottom portions which join diagonally between the corners of said outer and inner walls and one of said portions being connected on opposite edges with the rear ends of one pair of corresponding side wall branches of the corner section while the other portion is connected on its outer edge with the rear end of the other outer side wall branch and fits at its inner free edge against the rear edge of the other inner side wall branch, a hook arranged on the free edge of said last mentioned bottom portion, and a lip on the adjacent inner wall branch engaging with said hook, substantially as set forth.

12-. A panel box comprising a guttershaped inclosing frame composed of corner sections and side sections arranged end to end, each of said corner sections having its body constructed of an L-shaped outer wall, an L-shaped inner wall and two bottom portions which join diagonally between the corners of said outer and inner walls, and supporting bars arranged on the rear side of said frame across the diagonal joints between said corner bottom portions, substantially as set forth.

13. A panel box comprising a guttershaped inclosing frame composed of corner sections and side sections arranged end to end, each of said corner sections having its body constructed of an L-shaped outer wall, an L-shaped inner wall and two bottom portions which join diagonally between the corners of said outer and inner walls and which are provided with openings, and supporting bars arranged on the rear side of said frame across the diagonal joints between said corner bottom portions, and bent lugs arranged on said supporting bars and passing throu h said openings in said bottom portions, su stantially as set forth.

14. A panel box comprising a guttershaped inclosing frame composed of a plurality of sections, a back for supporting switches and cut-outs arranged within said frame, and sup orting bars connecting said frame and bac substantially as set forth.

15. A panel box comprising a guttershaped frame com )osed of a pluralit of sections each of which consists of a b0 y and a cover applied to said body and having a ledge at its inner edge, a back arranged with- 'in said frame at the rear thereof, and a central door for closing the front of the space within the frame and resting on the ledges of the several gutter covers, substantially as set forth.

16. A panel box comprising a guttershaped frame com osed of a plurality of sections each of whic 1 consists of a body and a cover applied to said body and having a ledge at its inner edge, a back arranged within said frame at the rear thereof, a central door for closing the front of the space within the frame and resting on the ledges of the several gutter covers, retaining bars secured to the outer sides of said gutter covers across the joint between the same, and a pivotal connection between one edge of said central door and retaining bars on one side of said frame, substantially as set forth.

17. A panel box comprising a guttershaped frame com osed of a plurality of sections each of which consists of a body and a cover applied to said body and having a ledge at its inner edge, a back arranged within said frame at the rear thereof, a central door for closing the front of the space within the frame and resting on the ledges of the several gutter covers, retaining bars secured to the outer sides of said gutter covers across the joint between the same, a pivotal connection between one edge of sald central door and retaining bars on one side of said frame, and means for detachably connecting the opposite edge of said central door with the gutter covers on the opposite side of the frame, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 22nd day of April,

FRANK S. WAHL. Witnesses:

Tnao. L. PoPP, E. M. GRAHAM. 

